The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-15
OLD DRESDEN.
Flora Ilalnes Apponyi in the Ingleslde.

Old Dresden paused for n moment in his
task of knocking up the gnarled mesquite
roots, and, with q long breath Of s~atisiac-
ton and the air Of u connoisseur, viewed
the pink tinted heap beside him. Pulling
oil his dilapidated hat, IN allowed the cool
morning breeze TO play.among the some
what ragged locks which hung over his
forehead. The sun, like a great crimson
ball, hung sleepily above the eastern hori-
zon, casting n faint glow upon the turretted
face of the Floridas and gliding the distant
peaks of the Tres Ilermanas, standing in
close linked embrace, liked allied sentinels
guarding the Mexican frontier. In the
long, level space which stretched between
the mountains, born aloft on the curling
fingers OF the morning mist, appeared a
phantom city, its castellated nights and
stately domos rearing themselves as il in
prophecy Of the years TO come, when n
noble civilization shall redeem the barren
mesas Of the southern territories and raise
its monuments OF art and architecture amid
the arid. plains.
The echo Of human voicestell upon Drcs-
den's ear.
ooh, John, why must you go?' A
woman's voice, low and sweet, with u
tremor Of pain
Come now, Helen, don't he a baby,
dear. Three weeks will fly by in no time.
And who knows how rich a strike / may
maker
"But | don't want il. I need you,
John" Old Dresden addressed himself
10 the woodpilc with rcdoubled energy.
A flying knot Of mesquite struck his hand.
The sting OF the wound refreshed him,
and a little later he heard the door Of the
cottage slam, while the clink Of n horses
hot an,nlaI -, tlp aernyallN coil Az ha
watched horse and rider disappear at
length in the direction of the mirage,
which had shifted its form so ~ to rcscm-
BILE u huge beast of prey couched for a
spring upon liz prey, something very like
q hot German oath rolled like sti'ied thun-
der from his lips.
"a tcufel Of n fellow" he murmured
more calmly under breath an instant later,
acccnting the qualification with stout blows
al the axe on an obstinate root, which had
NJ many contoriions rs n dying serpent.
"a teufcl Of a fellow. Leaf q little frau
like dat alone town to Mexico 10 tig COLT
in mittcl de windcr. II might be ferry
goot for him." he added meditatiycly
leaning upon the axehelye, his face
screwed into a quaint grimace, las old
Ju should take Of his scalp for him but
de little frau"
Win "a klAtfltl llAildN lily VI iHN rilfNl-
dcrs and an accompanying droop of the
corners 81 his month, he seemed TO pro-
test against his own harsh Judgment, as
he renewed the combat with the obstinate
fuel,
Old Dpsden was not the only one who
disapproycd " John Mcrcdith's journey
through the wild Sierra Madrc az that sea-
son vi the year, when storms were IRE
aucnt in the mountainsand Apachesskulk.
inc in the valleys and passes. His part
nrr, David l,owcll, had entered n vigorous
protest, but 10 10 avail. John Meredith
had the pugnacity OF determination pecul'
lar 10 men Of genius. From early boy.
hood his career had been signalizcd 10y d
series of daring and headstrong exploits
and when, as acrowning feat, he had capt
ured pretty Helen Gresham by an auda'
eious move, II Dave Rowcll felt any sore
ness of heart over her capitulation h,
ehoked il brayely down and harborcd n,
bitterness in his honest heart.
A week after her husbands departure
Mn. Meredith received n scrwl from Me
silla. where he had expected 10 meet
friend, written Just ~ they were taking TN
trail. "And don't be worried, my dear,
he wrote in conclusion, ''the days will pas
quickly and three weeks will soon be Mp
But YOU must count from the date Of on
departure" She dried her eyes an'
counted the days from the 10Th Of Fcl
mary.
ON the lst Of March a warm wind swcI
over the southern table lands. Under II
breath the snow upon the mountain peak
vanished ns II by magic and the dry be
OF the Micinbrs bv,ant. the couTsO ui
suuing torrent, sweeping onward for
final plunge into the waters OF the gul
The fern like foliage Of the mesquite con
ncnced 10 cautiously unfold, and the vii
ycrbena and lupinc made tiny patches {
purple and magenta oycrthc sterile wastes
On the Sd Of March Helen Meredith ros
with trcmulous Cagcrness at dawn. I'll
morning was calm and still, but q pccullf
obscurity about the horizon prcsagcd III
approach Of the New Mexican sirocc'
Stationed ut q bulls eye window IN u
attic. with q iicld-glnss in her hand, I'll
young wife kept her eyes steadily liked Q
the winding, silvcry ribbon ~attcnuated
athread in the distance, which mnrke
the line OF travel pursued by passcrs
and fro over the Mexican line. For ~
ward Of an hour nothing rewarded h'
vigilance; then d long and blurred ma
developed into q train Of hay wagons, ca'
drawn by q score Of stout limbed oxen M
attended by a dcputation OF half cloihc'
swarthy Mexicans. Another hour passc
and the rough wagon Of a Texan ranch
appearcd, the horses strolling leisure
along. while man and wife, pcrchcd on q
hiqh drivers seat, smoked their clay pip
In placid content.
absorbed in her anxious watch, iii
Mrs. Meredith had not observed that Z
, wind had risen, and, for q moment, "
almost appalled, TO sec road and landsca
disappear from view beneath q dun color
cloud, which, MS II drow near, cticctua
concealed every trace Of the cottages acrC
the street, and swallowed M the form Of
nosacr.by on her wi sidewa
Shreds OF cloth, bits Of p~astcboard, a
great sheets Of paper were caught up
Tic wind, along with the clouds OF d.
and gravel, and borne onward in It's M
ajohf. In a lower latitude the great
locity Of the wind, coupled with the 70
al n veightier atmosphere, would III
Uvon The storm the force Of a cyclone.
X was. II would do little mischief beyo
arousing the tempcrs Of mankind and
roofing sundry outhouses built upon N
eurc foundations. Mrs. Meredith, wit
c~oolness and patience born oil experien
boro this assault upon her domicilc "
charming equanimity. Moving about
house she proceeded 10 collect q numbe
iong and slender sand bags, %indispcnsa
sJinncts 10 tho tidy New Mexican hot
xiie' and proceeded TO arrange then
,hcir accustomed places over door
xindow sills, thus fighting tho intruI
element ON tho homeopathic principle.
III ,I,,l dny. and the next, she wa